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When you are recruiting the cream of the crop in the college football world, you can expect your school to be in the mix for college prospects that are going to take their decision all the way to National Signing Day - that day where college football fans stop what they are doing and see who their favorite schools will be bringing into the fold come that fall.
Franchise WR prospect Julio Jones signed with Alabama out of Foley in 2008.
Since Alabama football coach Nick Saban took over the Crimson Tide in January 2007, his program has seen its share of drama right up to the very end of annual recruiting cycles. Big dogs often walk late, and in the case of Alabama, the Tide has brought in several program-changing recruits on the first Wednesday in February.
In this feature, BOL takes a stab at Saban's top five most memorable National Signing Day moments along with accompanying video of those moments that helped the Tide to three national championships under Saban's watch.
5. Rueben Foster
While not technically on national signing day, was the Monday before, Foster's recruitment had a little bit of everything. Foster was originally committed to Alabama before transferring to Auburn High School for his senior year and going as far as to have a tattoo of the Auburn emblem placed on his forearm. On National Signing Day 2013 - thanks in large part to the efforts of Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart - Foster switched his commitment back to Alabama. Foster was a consensus five-star prospect and generally regarded as the nation's #1 linebacker.
4. Dre Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick, a consensus five-star corner back out of Gadsden High School and current Cincinnati Bengal, was Saban's first real elite signee at the corner position and would go on to pair with current New York Jet Demarcus Milliner as a formidable threat in the Tide's secondary. Kirkpatrick was heavily pursued by both Auburn and Texas and had a real interest in playing for then-Longhorns' defensive coordinator Will Muschamp before announcing for the Tide on National Signing Day 2009.
3. Cyrus Kouandjio
For Kouandjio, National Signing Day 2011 was not the end but the beginning. After months of speculation that the 6-foot-6, 315-pound five-star was an Alabama lean, Kouandjio shocked a national television audience by announcing for Auburn on signing day - a move that was immediately questioned by his parents during a televised interview. Three days later, Kouandjio's older brother and then-Tide lineman, Arie, announced his brother's decision to sign with Alabama. Kouandjio was a three-year starter for the Tide and a current member of the Buffalo Bills.
2. Rashaan Evans
Evans was the most unlikely of Alabama signees - his father played for Auburn, his mother graduated from Auburn and he was a five-star linebacker at Auburn High School. For months it appeared that Alabama was on the outside looking in but the Tide quietly kept battling until Evans announced his signing day shocker. For added effect, Evans' bio was added to the Auburn football Website shortly before announcing for the Tide.
1. Julio Jones
Jones was a program changer - a five-star signee at a position that Alabama historically had trouble bringing in elite stars. One of the quietest prospects in memory during his recruiting process, Jones kept people guessing and went through the recruiting process in its entirety, even taking a late visit to Oklahoma whom he gave serious consideration to due to their then-quarterback situation before pulling out the Alabama hat on Signing Day and setting the stage for a huge run of recruiting dominance for Alabama.
Franchise WR prospect Julio Jones signed with Alabama out of Foley in 2008.
Since Alabama football coach Nick Saban took over the Crimson Tide in January 2007, his program has seen its share of drama right up to the very end of annual recruiting cycles. Big dogs often walk late, and in the case of Alabama, the Tide has brought in several program-changing recruits on the first Wednesday in February.
In this feature, BOL takes a stab at Saban's top five most memorable National Signing Day moments along with accompanying video of those moments that helped the Tide to three national championships under Saban's watch.
5. Rueben Foster
While not technically on national signing day, was the Monday before, Foster's recruitment had a little bit of everything. Foster was originally committed to Alabama before transferring to Auburn High School for his senior year and going as far as to have a tattoo of the Auburn emblem placed on his forearm. On National Signing Day 2013 - thanks in large part to the efforts of Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart - Foster switched his commitment back to Alabama. Foster was a consensus five-star prospect and generally regarded as the nation's #1 linebacker.
4. Dre Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick, a consensus five-star corner back out of Gadsden High School and current Cincinnati Bengal, was Saban's first real elite signee at the corner position and would go on to pair with current New York Jet Demarcus Milliner as a formidable threat in the Tide's secondary. Kirkpatrick was heavily pursued by both Auburn and Texas and had a real interest in playing for then-Longhorns' defensive coordinator Will Muschamp before announcing for the Tide on National Signing Day 2009.
3. Cyrus Kouandjio
For Kouandjio, National Signing Day 2011 was not the end but the beginning. After months of speculation that the 6-foot-6, 315-pound five-star was an Alabama lean, Kouandjio shocked a national television audience by announcing for Auburn on signing day - a move that was immediately questioned by his parents during a televised interview. Three days later, Kouandjio's older brother and then-Tide lineman, Arie, announced his brother's decision to sign with Alabama. Kouandjio was a three-year starter for the Tide and a current member of the Buffalo Bills.
2. Rashaan Evans
Evans was the most unlikely of Alabama signees - his father played for Auburn, his mother graduated from Auburn and he was a five-star linebacker at Auburn High School. For months it appeared that Alabama was on the outside looking in but the Tide quietly kept battling until Evans announced his signing day shocker. For added effect, Evans' bio was added to the Auburn football Website shortly before announcing for the Tide.
1. Julio Jones
Jones was a program changer - a five-star signee at a position that Alabama historically had trouble bringing in elite stars. One of the quietest prospects in memory during his recruiting process, Jones kept people guessing and went through the recruiting process in its entirety, even taking a late visit to Oklahoma whom he gave serious consideration to due to their then-quarterback situation before pulling out the Alabama hat on Signing Day and setting the stage for a huge run of recruiting dominance for Alabama.
